The Last 299 Days of Humanity

Yu Qing didn't even have time to catch his breath. Just as he was sorting out the chaotic thoughts from his trip to Qingtian City and trying to find a way out for Wengshan, disaster struck without warning.

On this day, the sky over Wengshan was as clear as ever, yet a strange and silent massacre unfolded. No one knew who would use such a thorough method to completely erase all traces of life from this land.

The first signs were the birds flying freely in the distant sky. They were originally singing and circling joyfully in the calm sky as the sun rose, outlining the silhouette of life.

Suddenly, their songs stopped abruptly, their wings ceased flapping, and as if their hearts had been squeezed by a pair of invisible giant hands, they fell straight down from the sky in large numbers, crashing onto the ecological dome or the ground with dull "thud" sounds.

They didn't even have time to struggle; their tiny bodies twitched slightly upon landing and then fell silent.

This terrifying scene spread like a plague in an instant. Immediately afterwards, Yu Qing himself felt a pervasive, suffocating sense of powerlessness.

He instinctively grabbed the cold wall and gasped for breath, but felt that he was not inhaling air, but rather a viscous void that could not provide any life energy.

His gaze turned with difficulty toward the garden. Just seconds before, Xiaoya and Daya had been chasing and playing among the flowers, their silvery laughter still ringing in his ears.

At this moment, they were like two frozen statues, their hands clutching their throats, their rosy cheeks turning a horrifying bluish-purple at a visible speed, filled with incomprehensible pain and fear.

They opened their mouths wide, but no sound came out; only their chests heaved violently and futilely.

Almost simultaneously, Donghao's heart-wrenching cries echoed through the corridor: "Bread! Bread, what's wrong with you?!"

The little bread that was always full of energy and noisy was now limp in Dong Hao's arms, its small body trembling violently. Its originally rosy face was now ashen, and only a faint, bellows-like breathing sound remained, as if it would stop completely at any moment.

It wasn't just them. Within minutes, the entire city, all living things, had fallen into a bizarre and terrifying state of collective near-death. Silence, a deathly silence, replaced all life, broken only by the occasional thud of something falling or a body collapsing.

"Husband! Husband! The oxygen concentration here... has plummeted! It has... has fallen below the survival threshold! The reason is unknown! We... we..." Yao Dan was terrified, her words broken and filled with helplessness and panic.

At this moment, the piercing city sirens belatedly sounded, but the sound was no longer the usual warning; it was more like the final lament of a dying person, weakly spreading through the oxygen-deprived air.

On the main screen of the control center, the oxygen concentration curve, representing the source of life, plummeted like a cliff of despair, the numbers fluctuating wildly, instantly breaking through the absolute bottom line for maintaining the survival of higher life forms.

The humanoid Shu, responsible for monitoring the city's environment, was faced with a disaster that was completely beyond her comprehension and ability to cope with. All she could do was frantically pound on every alarm switch and reset button on the control panel.

Yu Qing felt his lungs burning, each breath felt like swallowing shards of glass, his vision became increasingly blurry, and his consciousness began to drift away.

In that moment of near suffocation, he gripped Yao Dan's hand tightly, as if it were his last lifeline. A piercing despair and an unprecedented, bone-deep sense of powerlessness engulfed and froze him like ice water.

This was no ordinary war; it was an easy, high-ground massacre. It was the cruelest and most thorough eradication of the very foundation of existence for these "original humans."

Aside from "Dadian," who else would possess such technology and use such a precise and cruel method to prove their "incompatibility" and "redundancy"? This is more like a cold-blooded "disinfection" process.

Just as the entire Wengshan was about to be completely shrouded in death, and even the last groan was about to be extinguished, and despair was about to devour everything like a tangible darkness, a sudden change occurred!

On the outskirts of the city, those giant stone pillars—ecological pillars—that have always been regarded as decorative art and engraved with ancient patterns, suddenly burst forth with a strong, eerie blue light without warning. The light, like living veins, instantly climbed all over the pillars.

Immediately afterwards, a deep and powerful energy roar came from the depths of the earth, as if a giant beast that had been sleeping for thousands of years had been forcibly awakened.

An air reorganization system, buried deep underground and with a structure far exceeding the current technological level of Wengshan, was forcibly activated and overloaded remotely by an external, powerful force!
A massive, almost frenzied amount of energy was injected into the system, forcibly tearing apart the molecular bonds of carbon dioxide and other waste gases in the air, frantically breaking them down to produce life-saving oxygen in a nearly wasteful manner.

At the same time, emergency nodes hidden in various corners of the city, such as ventilation openings and decorative sculpture bases that are usually inconspicuous, are activated simultaneously, releasing stored, high-pressure streams of pure oxygen.

The air seemed to have undergone a violent "purification" and "replacement," and the oxygen concentration began to rise rapidly with an illogical and almost cruel efficiency.

The invisible shackles that had been pressing on his chest suddenly loosened. Like a fish that had been out of water for too long and was now back in, Yu Qing collapsed to the ground, greedily inhaling the air that he had regained, carrying a strange, lingering energy, with a sob and violent cough that sounded like he had just survived a catastrophe.

But after the brief moment of relief at being rescued, Yu Qing's heart sank into a deeper, colder abyss of despair. He knew better than anyone where this almost miraculous, life-or-death rescue came from—it came from his aunt, from her power in Tianqing City that transcended mortal comprehension.

Once again, in a way he could not understand or even reach, she easily accomplished what he could not achieve even with all his might and at the cost of everything: protecting Wengshan and the people he cherished as his own lives.

This was not a consolation, but rather a resounding slap across his face, shattering all his dreams and dignity about "self-reliance of primitive humans" and "upholding pure humanity."

Alone, he staggered past Yao Dan, who tried to help him, and stumbled back to his private cubicle deep inside the main control center.

He locked the door, shut down all external communication channels, and immersed himself completely in a cold silence filled only with the low hum of machines. Sweat soaked his back, his heart was still pounding, and his breath still stung.

Perseverance? Dignity? The future of primitive humanity? Faced with the silent yet devastating disaster that had almost physically wiped out the entire race, his former beliefs now seemed so pale and laughable.

He can't even guarantee the most basic "survival" of these people and himself. He needs to rely on the "charity" of "non-humans" that may be withdrawn at any time to survive. What qualifications does he have, and what can he talk about revival?
A cold and desperate thought, like a venomous snake that had been lurking for a long time, finally burrowed into his mind at this moment, tightly binding his last struggle and hesitation: accept it.

Accepting her aunt's "gift," abandoning this fragile, flesh-and-blood body to become like them—a "non-human," almost eternal being.

It seems... this is the only way. Only by obtaining that level of power can one truly contend with a threat of the "Dian" level and secure a slim chance of survival for children like Yu Wa.

He used his personal "humanity," his complete experience as a "human being," and his ultimate destiny to exchange for the tiny spark that allowed the entire tribe to continue.

What a cruel and unequal deal this was, but he sadly discovered that he seemed to have no other choice. The harsh reality crushed all his hopes and persistence.

He thought of Yu Wa, the ten-year-old girl he brought back from the Third Paradise. She still retained the most precious innocence and kindness of people from the old era, her eyes were always clear and firm, her learning ability was amazing, and she had an innate awe and love for life itself.

Isn't she the epitome of the most authentic and beautiful form of primitive humans? Isn't she the only possible ray of hope for their people in the vast darkness of the future?

He had to pave a path for her, and for many more children like her who deserved a future, even if it meant crossing his own grave, and even if the path itself was full of unknown thorns.

With trembling hands, he painstakingly connected to the highest-level encrypted line leading directly to Tianqing City. There was no request for a holographic image; only his heavy, dry, almost bloodshot breathing, unusually clear in the silent room, filled the silence. "Aunt," his voice was hoarse, weary, and devoid of any luster, as if repeatedly polished by rough sandpaper, "I...accept your offer."

There was a brief, suffocating silence on the other end of the line, as if the other person was also assessing the true weight behind his words.

Immediately following was her aunt's voice, which still didn't reveal much emotion but seemed to carry a hint of "I knew it": "You've finally made a wise choice."

“But I have two conditions.” Yu Qing suddenly raised his head. Although the other person couldn’t see him, his eyes suddenly became unusually firm, a kind of determination that only comes after abandoning everything and burning one’s bridges. “This is not a request, it is a condition.”

“Speak,” Auntie replied succinctly and forcefully.

“First,” Yu Qing said, emphasizing each word clearly, “after my consciousness completes its transformation, its core carrier must be permanently anchored in Wengshan.”

I want to stay here and watch Yuwa grow up, to see her grow from a girl into a leader who can stand on her own.

Until she turned twenty, until I was certain that she possessed enough ability, wisdom, and resilience to truly shoulder the responsibility of leading native humans to find a way out of dire circumstances and to continue the flame of civilization...

Once I witness with my own eyes the true, irreversible dawn of revival for my people, I can...leave in peace.

When he uttered the name "Yu Wa," his voice involuntarily filled with a tenderness and hope that was almost like a prayer. It was the last straw he could grasp in the boundless darkness, the ultimate refuge of all his beliefs and the meaning of his sacrifice.

"Okay." Auntie answered unusually quickly, as if she had anticipated this request, or even been prepared for it.

“Second,” Yu Qing’s voice suddenly became even lower and more subdued, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth under immense pressure, carrying a metallic coldness.

“Until ‘Operation Lutai’ is officially, completely, and irreversibly cancelled, and I personally confirm its failure, I must preserve my physical body! Even if it is dependent on life support systems and in a state of minimal physiological activity, it must be ‘alive’!”

This time, the silence on the other end of the communication line was noticeably longer, as if an invisible weight was accumulating.

"'Operation Lutai'..." Aunt's voice finally carried a clear, knowing solemnity, "That has automatically entered a ninety-day countdown to destruction, and now, according to precise calculations, there are still... fifty-nine days, seventeen hours, and forty-two minutes left in the final cleanup process."

Designed by our ancestor Yu Yunshan, who was almost fanatical to the point of madness, this is the final insurance mechanism—activated when his bloodline heir is unidentified or completely controlled by external forces and unable to act independently—aimed at purging the global biosphere. You're worried…”

“I’m worried that at that critical and vulnerable juncture when my consciousness leaves my body and completes the transformation, the ‘Lutai Operation’ authentication system will determine that the successor is ‘dead’ or ‘irreversibly controlled’!”

Yu Qing slammed his fist on the control panel, his knuckles turning white, his voice trembling slightly with excitement, "At that time, this destruction program might be triggered by some unknown latent mechanism, or by slight external interference, or even..."

The very nature of your sophisticated consciousness-uploading technology may harbor unforeseen and unpredictable risks, potentially detonating prematurely or unintentionally! What if we fail to find and enter the 'Ultimate Office' before the countdown ends, or if my 'death' causes access to expire…

Then all my previous efforts and sacrifices will be meaningless, and may even become a catalyst to accelerate the complete extinction of primitive humans and even all life on Earth!

You should know better than me that I absolutely cannot take this risk before completely eliminating all the unpredictable risks that body-switching technology might bring, and before ensuring that 'Operation Lutai' is lifted!

His words came out like a machine gun, revealing his deepest fears. "That will be a more thorough and absolute destruction than the oxygen deprivation we just experienced! It will be the graveyard of the entire planet's ecosystem! It will be the true end of all things!"

He almost growled, “I must personally, while I am still ‘alive,’ walk into that legendary ‘ultimate office’ with my own flesh and blood body that carries the sole right of inheritance.”

After verifying all biometric characteristics, enter the final, irreversible termination command! This is the final and most important responsibility I, as a direct descendant of Yu Yunshan, must fulfill! There is no turning back!

He could not fully trust his aunt's incomprehensible technology, nor could he fully trust the process of stripping a person's essence from their body and uploading it to an unknown medium.

He had to ensure that the sword of Damocles, left by his ancestors and hanging over all humanity, was completely and safely removed before he crossed the boundary that symbolized the end of "humanity".

This was not only his bottom line in negotiations, but also the last and most important thing he could do for the world and for the people he loved as a human being.

Her aunt remained silent on the other end. She understood completely. This was not just a simple exchange, but a severe test.

It tests whether her skills are truly foolproof, whether she truly respects his will and choices as an independent individual, and whether, under such extreme circumstances, they can establish even the most basic and fragile sliver of trust.

"Very cautious, very well thought out. At the same time, it was also an... incredibly tragic choice."

After a long while, Aunt's voice rang out again. In that flat tone, there seemed to be a very subtle, hard-to-detect fluctuation, perhaps it was appreciation, perhaps it was emotion, or perhaps it was a trace of pity that was not easily noticed.

“I respect your decision and understand your concerns. We can tailor a gradual integration plan for you.”

Provided you retain your physical body and vital signs, we will first safely load some of the perception and computational auxiliary modules of a parallel human, allowing you to initially gain enough power to deal with the current threat and gradually adapt to the new form of existence and way of thinking.

This transition period can continue until...you personally confirm that 'Operation Lutai' has been permanently terminated and the alert is lifted. At that time, we will complete the final procedure for complete consciousness synchronization and carrier fixation.

"Thank you." Yu Qing closed his eyes. A tremendous, bone-deep exhaustion and an indescribable sense of emptiness, as if his entire soul had been hollowed out, swept over him like a tsunami, almost overwhelming him.

He chose power, he chose possible continuation, but he also personally put on heavy, time-limited shackles for himself, and set a final deadline of fifty-nine days, a race against the survival of humanity.

He slowly raised his head and looked out the window. The afterglow of the setting sun was trying to penetrate the lingering shadows of death, gilding Wengshan, a place still shaken and traumatized by the ordeal, with a poignant and tragic golden hue.

But he knew perfectly well that from the moment he made this decision, he was no longer just fighting for the survival of the original humans, but racing against time and against the destructive curse left by his mad ancestor, a curse intended to destroy everyone.

He became the bridge connecting the past and the future, despair and hope, and the only and necessary key to unlock that final redemption.

And that "ultimate office," hidden behind the dust of history and countless codes, which determines the fate of Earth, is destined to become his... final stop as a "human being." (End of Chapter)